The Office of Finance & Treasury at Princeton University seeks an experienced contracting specialist for the role of contracts manager in our Procurement Services group. The contracts manager is accountable for leading the efforts to enhance the University’s processes, systems, and capabilities for all third-party agreements for the purchase or use of all types of goods and services. Balancing the needs of campus clients with the responsibility of ensuring the University’s interests and rights are protected, this role navigates challenging contracting situations in partnership with stakeholders and responsible constituent departments.

In this capacity, the contracts manager has three primary responsibilities:

• Negotiation and execution of contracts which are high value, high complexity, and/or high risk to the University requiring collaboration and input from experts from a wide variety of department stakeholders and in partnership with campus clients.
• Partnering with Procurement Services colleagues and campus clients to provide expert guidance and support on contracting strategies and tactics across a wide variety of purchases of goods and services necessary for the education and research mission of the University.
• Program leadership of the contract management function to include expanded abstracting, performance and value reporting, the deployment of a robust portfolio of master agreements, contract templates, and education tools, and the disciplined lifecycle management of all agreements using the University’s contract lifecycle management system.

This role requires an individual capable of the strategic responsibilities of managing and enhancing a University wide program, the flexibility and skill to guide and educate procurement professionals on a wide variety of contracting situations, and the expertise and skill to take ownership for the negotiation and execution of complex and challenging contracts.

The Office of Finance & Treasury actively searches for staff members of exceptional ability and promise who share in Princeton University's commitment to excellence, and who present a diversity of viewpoints and cultures. We offer varied professional opportunities spanning all aspects of financial management, analysis, and processing in support of the teaching and research mission. As part of the University community, we respect the dignity and individuality of each member while trying to foster a sense of shared experience and common purpose. We are unwavering in our commitment to both diversity and community and embrace the variety of talents, backgrounds, and perspectives of all of our colleagues.

This is a two-year term position.

Contracting & Negotiations

• Negotiate and execute agreements of high complexity and risk individually and in partnership with category managers, buyers, and campus stakeholders
• Lead collaborative projects involving a variety of University stakeholders from the Office of General Counsel, Office of Information Technology, Environmental Health and Safety, Risk Management, Audit & Compliance, and many others to streamline contracting processes and enhance the effectiveness of contractual controls
• Provide expertise and knowledge in partnership with the Office of the General Counsel in the evaluation of challenging and/or non-standard terms and conditions to ensure successful contractual and operational outcomes
• Collaborate with campus stakeholders to explain the practical and relevant contractual risks and benefits in conjunction with providing contract guidance and direction
• Partner with colleagues in Procurement Services to optimize the level of contract support across a wide variety of categories and contracting needs

Standardization & Simplification

• Partner with colleagues in Procurement Services to refine and enhance work processes and systems necessary to streamline contract life cycle management efforts within the Source-to-Pay process in support of a vast population of campus users
• Using analytics and collaborative activities, develop and execute a roadmap of contract templates, tools, and trainings to simplify work processes and build contracting capabilities within Procurement Services and across campus
• Partner with OGC in the development of standard contract terms and conditions, templates and clause libraries to reduce the cycle time and complexity of contracting
• Develop and execute action plans to address the scope and remediate the risk of non-compliant and expired agreements

Program Management & Governance

• Using a data driven approach, enhance the capabilities of systems and processes to define, collect, and benchmark metrics and KPIs to inform strategies for process improvements
• Develop processes and system enhancements to expand contract abstracting and data collection to enhance reporting and contract management activities
• Develop and manage dashboards and reports to encourage excellence in the contracting process and use of preferred and diverse suppliers within the campus community
• Collaborate with internal and external parties to ensure trends, emerging issues, and regulatory changes are positively reflected in systems, processes, and policies

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Law, or related field
• 7+ years’ experience in a contract management role preferably in a procurement organization
• Sophisticated knowledge and experience drafting and negotiating legal agreements and applicable commercial and legal principles
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to apply contracting principals to a variety of goods and services
• Exceptional collaboration and time management skills to work across many departments managing multiple priorities
• Experience with Contract Lifecycle Management solutions and methodologies including authoring, version control, abstracting, and monitoring

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Conga Novatus contract lifecycle management tool
• Working knowledge of Uniform Commercial Code
• Experience with federally funded purchases including Uniform Guidance and/or Federal Acquisition Regulations
• Familiarity with PeopleSoft Financial Management or other ERP suites
• Experience in a Higher Education environment
• JD degree

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

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